Where should I go? Maybe Augustus. Somehow that manages to feel both too closeandtoo far away. I love that lug-headed, well-hung shifter, even if the thought of disemboweling him is the only thing keeping me even slightly warm now.
Well, that and Jax’s old hockey cap—which I swiped on my way out the door.
Sweet gods, it’s cold. The ferocity surprises me every time. It penetrates my body like I’m being plunged into an ice bath. Sleepy Briar sucks. Leaving would be the best thing for me.
What I didn’t expect was the pain. Jax doesn’t trust me. He had no problem fucking me, but when faced with an idiotic theory his clod-headed cousin cooked up, he doubted me.
I’m a vampire. I’m used to the shitty rap. It’s why, a few hundred years ago, the physician-vampire profession started. The board hoped that if vampires had more to offer other humans and paranormals, it would ease some of the mistrust.
And face it: I’m a badass. My speed and endurance make me far superior to the most talented human athletes, male or female. In humid climates. There is a reason vamps like the Big Easy.
Don’t even get me started on my greater intellect. There is a reason vampire physicians are the doctors both humans and paranormals prize most.
But I’m also in love with my mate. And that makes me vulnerable to pain. For the first time, I see the reasoning behind the prohibition against vampires having personal relationships with non-vamps. Mistrust between species runs deep and probably can never be completely forgotten.
The only way to prove Jax is wrong about me is to find the culprit behind the traps. I’ll start with the trolls. They’re either in league with the succubus or probably have an idea of how to track her down.
Visiting the fae is easier to put off. History has been much kinder to them because of their diminutive size. If humans knew the fae were behind most of history’s genocides, nobody would be leaving their kids’ teeth under pillows for them at night.
My GPS is set for the mining camp. If it wasn’t for the storm, I’d be able to smell the trolls, but the blowing winds disorient me. And I need to get there as quickly as possible before I freeze to death.
It would serve Jax right if he found my dead body out here. Maybe the guilt would kill him.
My snow machine is clipping along when suddenly it hits something hard buried deep in the snow. Metal grinds against metal in a teeth-jarring sound. I sail through the air and land headfirst in a snowdrift before the vehicle even shudders to a stop.
Holy hell.My head hurts like a mule’s been tango-ing on my brain. I blink, wiping the snow out of my eyes. My glove comes back covered in blood.Crap.I cracked my head on my landing. That’s why my helmet is lying nearby, badly dented.
The best thing would be to get the snow machine running again and find help. Seeing how I can’t stand up, that seems like a lot of effort. The headlights are still on, but they stare off into space. The machine is on its side, and the two front skis are gone.
Shit on a stake.
Worst of all, I left the cabin without my bag—and more importantly, no one knows where I am going. I have no way to call for help either. I’m going to die out here alone unless some hungry troll makes me his dinner first.
And at that dreary thought, everything goes black.
Chapter10
JAX
The heavy snow means Riyah’s snow machine tracks fill in fast. I can track her another way. With our shared bond, I’ll always be able to find her; that isn’t in question. The issue is time.
My wolf form covers the distance easily. Even though visibility is zero, the ice-tinged air means another ice storm is rolling in.
I blink as the snow machine’s outline suddenly appears in front of me. My joy turns to horror as I see the riderless vehicle lying on its side.
Riyah!
I circle the machine, its familiar acrid odor filling me with fear. A sprung wolf trap has snapped its two front skis. Their bent tips lie like broken front teeth in the trap’s metal jaws.
Spinning around in a circle, I search for Riyah. I can’t see her, but her scent tells me she is nearby. She’s fallen victim to another trap. Why did I ever think she had anything to do with this? What an idiot I am to lose her over such an asinine thought.
Nose to the ground, I track her scent. She is close. At a snowdrift, I nudge the packed snow with my nose. Tunneling, my snout smacks into my own hat.
Riyah moans when I lick her face. “Mom, let me sleep ten more minutes. I’ll take out the garbage later.”
The good news is, she’s alive. The bad news is, she’s suffering from hypothermia and probably a concussion, judging by all the bloody tracks.
I pull away from the snow berm so I can shift.